Pickling and washing machine for metal plates.



. l v A.-MEYN. PICKLING AND WASHI NG MACHINE FOR METAL PLATES.

APPLIUATIO 1,066,298

00 1 9 1 1 w J a e t n 6 a P T E B m or T E E H s 00 A. MBYN. PIOKLING AND WASHING MACHINE FOR METAL PLATES. 1910. RENEWED JAN. 30, 1913.

APPLIOATION FILED DBO. l 'L06,298.

Patented July I, 1913.

3 BHBBTSSHEET 3.

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INVENTOR;

UNITED sTArps ADOLF MEYN, OF PITTSBURGH, FENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PICKLING AND WASHING MACHINE FOR METAL PLATES.

Patented July 1 1913.

Application filed December 1, 1910, Serial No. 595,050. Renewed January 30, 1913. Seria1'No.'745,290.

T all whomz't may concern Be it known that I, ADOLF MEYN, a resident of Pittsburgh,'in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pickling and Washing Machines for Metal Plates; and'I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description thereof. My invention relates to pickling and washing machines for metal plates, and relates more particularly to that type of machine in which the plates are carried in crates that are suspended from a spider adapted to be agitated up and down when the plates are in the bath, or to be lowered and lifted .to and from the bath.

The mainobject of my invention is to reduce the amountof power required to agitat e the crates and at the same time to provide, an efiective and simple means for swinging the'spider automatically a predetermined distance, so 'as to bring the crates around in proper position for-lowering into their respective baths.

To-these ends my invention comprises the novel features hereinafter claimed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevationof the machine with a section taken through one of the vats; Fig. 2 is a' plan View; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view partly in section showing the manner of securing the ropes to the spider; Fig. 4 is a plan view with the top clutch members in section.

and the bracket for the cam-pin; Figs. 5 and 6 are details; and Figs. 7 and 8 show modified forms of my invention.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 i designates the frame from which is suspended the spider or crate-frame 2. Thecrates 3 are suspended by means of chains 4. The

, ropes or chains 5 are conneoted to the spider in the manner more fully hereinafter setforth, and such chains pass over the sheaves 6, counterweights 7 being secured to the ends of said ropes or chains. The sheaves .6 are carried by the frame 1 and saidfra-me forms a guide for the guide-rod 8 bymeans of which the spider is guided, so as to prevent the said spider from tipping when unequally loaded, and said guide-rod moves up and down with said spider. This guide rod 8.

passes through a stuffing-box 9 in the cylinder 10 and carries a piston-head at its lower end within said cylinder.

set forth and Suitable valve-mechanism 12 is operated automatically by a rod 13 to control the valve to thecylinderlO. The rod 13 is carried by the bracket 14 secured to the guiderod 8 and moved up and down by it. It is not deemed necessary to illustrate this valvemechanism as it may be any well known construction employed for such purposes. The valye-mechanism 12 controls the short strokes in the agitation of the crates when in the vats, and the lifting or lowering of the spider in removing the crates from the vats or lowering them thereto is accomplished by a suitable hand-lever connected to said valve-mechanism.

In Fig. '3 I have illustrated more in detail the manner in which the ropes 5 are secured to the spider. The guide-rod 8 has a shoulder 8 upon which is keyed the supporting ring 15 with the openings 15- to receive: the "ropes 5 which are enlarged at their ends so as to prevent their withd'rawal' therefrom. A groove 27 is formed in the guide-rod and a key 28 engages said groove and a groove in said ring 15 to keep said ring'from turning. The spider ring 15-has the thrust bearing 16 extending around outside the ropes 5; said thrust bearing may be an ordinary ball-bearing. On this hearing the upper 85 hearing part 17 rests which is secured by bolts to the hub of spider 2. Bushings 18 and 19 are provided for the turning of the spider around the rod -8 and ring 15. The upper bearing part 17 has an upper cyl1n drioal extension 17, outside the ropes 5 and said extension comprises a series of cams 20 equal in number to the number of arms on the spider. As there are three arms in the present instance, there are three cams which each act to revolve the spider through onethird of a circle. Each cam is provided with the taperedportion 29 on the under side for the purpose fully hereinafter set forth.

A bracket 21 is secured to the beams'l of the framelfiid serves'to carry the pin 22 with its bushing 23 which moves in the bushing 24, and said pin is normally forced out by the spring 25, which is controlled by the adjusting nut 26. In the liftingof the spider the cam 20 presses'against the bushing '23 of the pin and forces the spider to turn around the guide-rod and. ropes, and when the spider is lowered'the tapered por; 11c tion 29 of theunder side of the cams presses ."the pin 21 back until the cam is lowered clear of it, whereupon the spring 25 will bring the p111 back to its former POSIUOIL Extending up from the ring 15 are the clutch-arms-32 which are adaptedto engage the clutch-arms 30 extending down from the frame 1 which prevent the tar ing of the guide-rod, as fully hereinafter so I forth; As the apparatus stands vertically the ropes pull vertically upward and as the crates hang vertically down from the arms of the spider guided by pins 33 on said'crates engaging the stationary guides 34, no turning of the guide-rod can tztke place and consequently there is no twisting of the ropes. Any slack in accuracy of the directing of the apparatus can easily be taken care of by a slight turning. of the spider in its thrust bearing.

The operation of the machine is as follows: In a three-arm machine of the type illustrated, there will always be two crates in'the vats to be agitated and when the spider is lifted to withdraw the crates from the vats, a third crate will be attached to the third arm of the spider and the spider carrying the three crates is lifted and turned the required distance to bring the crate just added into position over the first vat, and the crate over the second vat around in. position to be unloaded. The raising of the spider with the crates suspended therefrom is always accomplished by the weights. 7,

while the lowering is done by pressure such as steam or air admitted to the upper end of the cylinder 10 to lower the guide-rod.

.As the counterweights are so dimensioned that they (have a surplus weight above mersed in the fluid of the vat.

' the total weight of all the parts to be moved up and down, that is, the complete spider with its guide-rod 8, rod 13, and a loaded crate on each arm together with thefriction to be overcome, said surplus weight will always pull the spider upward, so that to pull the spider down when the crates are agitated, it is necessary to apply power equal to the-sum of the surplus weight, the weight of one removed loaded crate and the loss of weight of those parts that are im- When the agitation has been carried on to the required extent, a loaded crate-is hooked to the unloaded arm of the spider and the power shut ofi' whereupon, the weights raise the crates out'of the vats. At the time the guide-"pins v33 of the crates get clear of the guides 34 the clutch-arms 30 and 32 become engaged thereby preventing the turning of the guide-rod, and while the spider'is still rising, one of the cams 20 will engage-the.

1 gages the pin 22, which stops the turning *of *the spider. The spider in this way is swung aroundtheifractiomof the circle required to bring the crates into proper position with reference to the vats. Power is applied to the cylinder and the pull of the surplus weight is overcome to lower the spider until the crate carrying the finished plates reaches the loading table 35, and is n'nhooked for unloading, whereupon the short or agitating fore.

As will be observed the greatest amount of power for lowering is required when one crate is removed and the others are in the combined weight of the guide-rodandspider with all butone loaded crate. In order to out this amount down, I may hang on the proximately as heavy as the removed crate with its load, so that I. only need a pull equal to the sum of the surplus weight plus the increase of pull of the balance weights 7 due to the loss of weight of the crates immersed in the vats. vThisspecial weight has alsot-he advantage of preventing a onesided wear in-the bearlngs for the guiderod. Even thepower to overcome the increased pull of the balance-weights 7 due to the loss of weight by dipping the crates into the vats may be saved by adding to tional weight so that an almost perfect counterbalance is obtained.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a modified form of my invention in which the lowering is. done by an electrically driven winding apparatus 40 equipped with a brake.

lower end of the guide-rod, said rope passing around the sheaves 42 and 43 which may be located below the floon-line.

- In Fig- 8 I have shown another formof my invention ilrwhich only one chain or spider, said chain passing around the sheaves 45 and 46 to the winding-mechanism 47. In this case the spider is always pulled pulled up by means of power such as the electrical winding-apparatus 47. In this construction the guide-rod is omitted but the crates are iided as illustrated in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. The special weight is employed on the unloaded arm 'of the spider to prevent the spider from tilting. In this arrangement there is as much left unbalanced as was overbalanced by the surplus weight in the former described arrange ment so that the spider in this case is always pulled down by its own weight, and has to be pulled up by means of power such as the electric winding apparatus illustrated.

Vhat I-claim is: 1. In pickling and washing machines, the combination with a suitable support and a plurality of. vats, of a rotary and vertically strokes are then given to the spider as be-.

' vats,,but power has been saved to move the" empty arm a special weight which is apthe above mentioned special weight an addi-.

rope 44 is employed for suspending the' down by its own weight, and has to be The rope or chain 41 is connected to the movable, crate-carrying frame, means for raising and lowering said crate-frame, and means operative by the movement of the crate-frame to turn said frame.

2. In pickling and washing machines, the combination with a suitable support and a plurality of Rats, of a rotary and verticallymovable crate-carrying frame, means for raising andlowering said crate-frame, and meansin the path of said crate-frame in operative position'with reference to means on path of the said cam-device a apted to em gage said cams to turn said crate-frame.

said support to turn said crate-frame.

3. In pickling and washing machines, the

combination with a suitable support and a plurality of yats, of a rotary and vertically movable crate-carrying frame, means for raising and lowering said crate-frame, a cam device and means engaging said cam device in the vertical movement of said crateframe to turn the same.

4; In pickling and Washing machines, the combination with a suitable support and a plurality of vats, of a rotary and vertically movable crate-cariing' frame, means for raising and lowering said crate-frame, a cam-device carried by said crate-frame, and

'means in the path of said crate-frame engaging said cam to turn said crate-frame.

5. In pickling'and washing machines, the combination with a suitable support and a plurality of vats, of a rotary and vertically movable crate-carrying frame, means for raising and lowering said frame, a cam carried by said frame, and means in the path of the upward movement of said crate-frame adapted to engagesaid cam to turn said crate-frame.

6. In pickling and washing machines, the

combination'with a suitable suppo-rt and a' .pluralityof vats, ofa rotary and vertically movable crate-carrying frame, -means for raising and lowering said crate-frame, a

, cam carried by said crate-frame,.and a yield,

ing pin iii the path of ,said cam adapted to engage said cam'to turn said crate-frame.

In pickling and washing machines, the combinaion with a suitable support and a plurality of vats, of a rotary and vertically movable crate-carrying frame,- means for raising and lowering said crate-frame, a

cam-device having a pluraiity of cams cor-- responding to the number of crates carried bysaid frame, and a yieldin pin in the .8. In pickling and washing machines the combination with a suitable :support and a plurality of vats, of a rotary and vertically movable crate-carrying frame, means for raising and lower ng the same, a cam device having a plurality of cams corresponding to the number of crates carried by said cratefraine, and a pin in the path of the upward movement of said crate-frame ada ted to engage said camsto turn said craterame.

9. In pickling and-washing machines,the combination with a suitable stationary support and a plurality of vats, of a rotary crate-carrying frame, a guide-rod for said crate-frame, ropes connected to said crateframe, Weights carried by said ropes and suspended from said support, power-driven means for lowering said guide-rod and the crate-frame mounted thereon, said crate frame being elevated by said weights, means for automatically tu ning said crate-frame on said guide rod, and means for holding said ropes against twisting during the turning of said crate-frame.

10. In ickling and washing machines, the combination with a suitable support and aplurality of vats, of a crate-carrying frame, a guide-rod for samefa non-rotary ring-like member carried by said rod, ropes secured to said ring-like member, said crate-carrying frame adapted to rotate around said member, power-driven means for lowering said guide-rod, and weights secured to said rope. 11. In pickling and washing machines, the combinatio with a suitable support and a plurality o' vats, of a crate-carrying frame,

guide-rod against rotary movement when said crateframe is rotated. r

' 12. In picklingand washing machines, the combination wit a suitable supporaand a plurality of vats, of. a crate-carrying frame, a guide-rod for, said. crate-frame, a ring- -member,- said crate-frame rotatable around said ring-member, power-driven means for lowering said guide-rod, welghts earned by said ropes for raising said crate-frame, and,

clutch-members carried by said ring-member adapted to engage clutch-members on said support when said crate-carrying frame i lifted.

In testimony whereof, 'I the said Anon!" MEYN have hereunto set my hand. ADOLF MEYN.

Witnesses:

ROBERT C. To'rrEN," J OHN F. VVI'Ln 

